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Another pretty Westerner. Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis.

one more

Very nice pictures of some beautiful snakes Casey.
I tried looking for those a bit last summer on a short trip to central California to no avail. Maybee next time.

Brian Eagar

You're probably looking in the wrong part of the state. Those brightly colored specimens of Infernalis tend to be found along the coast, and only at a particular section at that. I know, cause I've seen them before. All the ones that I've come across will either have a bright red or orange head w/ a blue belly and throat. The dorsal stripe will be either a bright(florescent)yellowish green, or a light powdery blue. Inland specimens tend to be alot duller in coloration with yellowish/tan stripes, throat and bellies. Must be something in the enviroment.

You may be right. I was looking all along the central california cost from about LA to north of San Fransisco. I thought farther north might be better but we didn't make it any farther north. The biggest problem I ran into was that every likely wetland habitat I cam across had a big fence around it with no trespassing signs. I would see lakes and reservoirs on my travel map only to find them fenced off when I got there.
It was a real bummer. I didn't have much time for herping anyway as it was primarily a family vacation. My wife wouldn't let me stop at the one likely spot I saw without a fence because we needed to find a hotel for the night. I too think their coloration may be due to something in the environment or even the water. Thanks for the info.

>>You're probably looking in the wrong part of the state. Those brightly colored specimens of Infernalis tend to be found along the coast, and only at a particular section at that. I know, cause I've seen them before. All the ones that I've come across will either have a bright red or orange head w/ a blue belly and throat. The dorsal stripe will be either a bright(florescent)yellowish green, or a light powdery blue. Inland specimens tend to be alot duller in coloration with yellowish/tan stripes, throat and bellies. Must be something in the enviroment.

np
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Andy Maddox
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Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

p

Hi
All these non albinos with stunning colors. I am amazed. I am just keeping a few so far, but will increase if they are for sale here.
Best of luck with them all
Søe
Reptilia-Denmark

Np

no, it's not, this is a California red sided garter, thamnophis sirtalis infernalis, the endangered one is the San Francisco garter, thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia.

np

np

Here's another California Red-sided Garter Snake startled from a coiled position.